The Opelousas courier., 1887-11-19

1t was this sympathy, born in the darkness
of my W despair, which brought Lie int
close relations with Elsa Cunningham, an(
thus gave me the weird experience I an
about to narrate.
It was at Zermatt that 7 first met her. Sht
WAS staying with her husband and little SOL
at the same hotel as myself. I had COM
there to chaperon my niece. Rhoda Thomp
son. who WAS al enthusiastic climber, anC
had with her made most Of the ascents at al
possible to women. Mr.. Cunningham was O
member of the Alpine Club, and chose to ex.
press admiration of our exploits. We were
thrown q good deal together, Cor we not only
made the same party in several expeditions,
but. when we we're confined to our hotel by
weather, Mr. Cunningham would read aloud
to us all together, or with his boy between
his kneeAten one story after another of live.
y adventure.
At these times Elsa las I learned to call herr
would appear fully at peace, if not absolutely
happy;s but coming upon, her alone I always
NOTICED, a look of troubled anxiety on her
faeeA She was a pretty woinan--about thirty.
L think, but L never WAS told her age-and
she had the most sensitive face in the world,
b was French, though her husband was
English imaginable. Her husband adored
her; her child was beautiful and strong. She
was evidently G f~avorite OF Fortune.
Yet l certainly detected in her dark restless
eyes a something verryhke fear. | think that
from the frst she knew that / saw in her
what others did not, and she was grateful for
my Hnspoken sympathy, for sometimes she
would slip her futtering little hand into
mine. where IL would rest for minutes to-
gether, and then she would gaze out at the
mountain peaks with unutterable sadness.
never made any. of the ascents, being
too timid, but remained with her boy.
One evening Mrs. Cunningham and I were
Watching. for the return of her husband and
his party. My niece and two other ladies
we're with them. | had remained behind at
Mrs, Coninghem's reqnest-the first request
she had made me. Mamma is afraid of
going to sleep, I think, y whispered little
Carl. 1t makes her SO i'll to 90 to sleep
smiled for answer to this odd speech, but
even as | smiled an alarm could not account
Tor selzed me, and looked toward the chiId's
mother. She had swooRed!
l hastily took up q glass of water, which
happened to be upon the table, and was about
to sprinkle her face when Carl put back my
hand with his small fingers, saying, with the
Nc, MIss Thompson: it is of no use to try
to wake mamma when she goes to sleep so.
Papa holds her hand till she wakes-she is
afraid when s5e first wakes"
l did ndkesan effort to rouse her, however.
which was of no avail.
','You sit and hold mammals hand, and when
she wakes say Elsa yer9 softly."
delicate hand in mine. How cold it wasl
Carl. ;, | said in alarm, ARE You ouite
slre your mother il often like this, and that
wakes all right?"
like his mother).. 'And when papa comes
will not say that mamma has been asIeen
She will say this to him herself-and he
knows 1T oWt'
The little fellow nodded at me inpressiyelv
i he could tell more did he SO choose. But
[ did not think it right to question him,
as the mystery excited my curiosity.
Moreover, | scarcely think the child would
told me more even had I done 40.
I sat still. bordering and continuing to
Keep the small hand within mine.
In about half an hour I felt The hand vi
nrate strangely. Carl, who had been watch
Elsa, said in q voice that I know had
sroWn very tender since my trouble,
The white eQelids treinbled; the sweet ewes
we're revealed IN all their strange mysterious
oeauty. Then o smile fiiekered over her
ace, and she said: Let It be always Elsa
low l feel myself well with YOUR
= You snail be Elsa, dear, and Unjust be
Joan l made answer. And then I stopped
kissed her.
urn, isn't it ?'' she next said. THEY are al
late-but they will not yet be here
Ihey were late; [ knew it, and I had grown |
.nxlous, but had avoided saying anything
bout 1t from fear of alarming her.
Blu they will all return safely, % she add
q, as II reading my thoughts.
! was completely mystified, but forbore to
question her.
I took out from my pocket 8 little volume
He1ne.s pbems-my constant companion-t
askedif ! should read something.
Do please,R she answered prompts. |
Read sNacht lfegtauf den fremden Wegen..
afterward Der Tod, das ist die kahle
I read these, and afterward others.
HoW comfortable is your voice, JoanE p,
ne safd atiaSt, lingering on my name as IL
! were q pleasure to her to speak #. sIf
.ere gong to die ! should like you to be near
/ looked at the fair, youthfulface. to which
ne color, had returned, glowing and very
leasant TO see, and could not imagine her as
/ ing, tiaough I had seen her sleep that
. be In perfect health: tie peruieyipp sad.
ess was, i felt Convinced, Of the mind
Iisned she would confide IN me: wby d;dr.t
1e;s sInce she seemed tocare formeeo machS
Z aen 4 Tenlesabered my own inability 70
95Ilde my own SORROW to any car, aud Issid.
must not speak Of dying, Els. Ven
~ a1Sogether too young. too weI-v
A glance which passed between her and fla
PUG interrupted my sentence. It was 3
iISnfS bas " soaElaalet cannot say
Y nplselessiy-he was the qaietest Child I
knew and looking grayelv i,fa nv gaea
IN ms steady gaze. BIS eyes 70 ike his
E0saers, SAG; But ne shall soon die,
4 was spared the pain of trying to s;snal
"a iAncy 0y the return of the a~nxfousIy
akcnea-TDr party. Mr.. Eon~irrhanfxSaa H.
III 69 eIafer tue sagoa. Icoald not bigI re-
go ~ palesess. even through the GLOW
COMMUNICATING always prs9lrcap m aens
0lEe to his W1fazSrbn gnnfh SzT va;xI